It’s not uncommon to see a squirrel or two scurrying about in your Dallas yard, but if these furry rodents are frequent visitors, then you may have a problem on your hands—and in your yard or home.
Not only can squirrels cause damage to your lawn and outdoor plants, but they can also destroy your home in the process of entering and spreading disease-causing bacteria wherever they go.
Read on for more about the types of squirrels that hang around Dallas yards and the diseases squirrels in Dallas are capable of spreading. Below are practical prevention tips for Dallas properties and the safest way to keep squirrels away from your Dallas property.
The Types Of Squirrels That Hang Around Dallas Yards
In Dallas and the rest of Texas, tree squirrels are the most common squirrels that hang around yard spaces. The three most common types of tree squirrels are:
- Flying squirrels
- Fox squirrels
- Gray squirrels
All these squirrels are known to cause damage to yards and homes. In yards, squirrels damage lawns by digging up or burying nuts, chewing on the twigs and bark of shrubbery and trees, and eating the vegetables and fruits from gardens and trees.
Squirrels can also cause damage to siding and wooden support beams and chew on electrical wiring, posing a fire risk. Squirrels tend to enter homes through small spaces, and if current openings aren’t large enough, they’ll make themselves fit, causing damage in the process.
The Diseases Squirrels In Dallas Are Capable Of Spreading
Squirrels are in the rodent family, and thus they are capable of spreading some of the same diseases to humans as mice, rats, and other rodents. Some of these diseases include:
- Leptospirosis
- Salmonellosis
- Tularemia
- Rabies
- Lyme disease
- Typhus
- Plague
Effective Squirrel Prevention Tips For Dallas Properties
When working to keep squirrels away from your Dallas property, one of the best measures—aside from professional pest control services—is preventative action. Consider the following six tips to prevent squirrels from hanging around your Dallas property:
- Properly seal all entry points, including making repairs to foundations and roofs, ensuring that window and door screens are free of damage, adding screens to all vents, and capping chimneys.
- Keep all food out of reach by cleaning your yard and garden of fallen debris, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, or seeds, and storing trash in lidded containers. And whatever you do, don’t feed the squirrels!
- Use a physical barrier to keep squirrels away from plants, such as chicken wire or fencing.
- Use motion-activated noisemakers, such as garden spinners and sprinklers to scare squirrels away.
- Plant squirrel-resistant flowers. Squirrels detest the smell of hyacinths, allium, bleeding hearts, goldenrod, and lily of the valley, and daffodils produce a toxin that makes them inedible. Plant these flowers in and around gardens as another measure against squirrel damage.
- Use spices; squirrels abhor spicy scents, such as cayenne and white pepper. Lightly sprinkle either on plants to dissuade them. Another all-natural option to deter squirrels is chopped garlic.
The Safest Way To Keep Squirrels Away From Your Dallas Property
If you have squirrels lingering around your Dallas property, don’t put yourself in harm’s way of contracting a squirrel-borne disease. The family-owned and operated professionals at Addison Pest Control have been managing squirrels and other common household pests that plague Dallas home and property owners since 1986, and we’re confident we’ll be able to resolve your pest problem, too.
If you notice too many squirrels in your yard, or need pest control in Hebron, TX, call Addison Pest Control today at (972) 200-9383.